RICHIE BEYER is the COO of the Elmore County Economic Development Authority. Prior to joining the agency, he worked 22 years as the Elmore County engineer and as COO for Elmore County. Beyer has served as president of the National Association of County Engineers and of the Alabama County Engineers Association. In addition, the National Association of County Engineers named him Rural County Engineer of the Year in 2014. Besides his work in local government, Beyer has been a board member of the YMCA of Greater Montgomery Association. Beyer is a graduate of Florida State University.
ZACHARY BIGLEY is the first mayor of the newly incorporated town of Pine Level in Autauga County. Bigley studied business administration and management at Auburn University at Montgomery and earned his associate degree in pastoral studies and counseling at Rhema Bible Training Center. He founded Zachary Bigley Ministries Inc., in 2011 and hosted the “Generation Next” television show. He also has worked as a real-estate agent and coached his daughter’s softball team.
BRENDA ROBERTSON DENNIS is president and CEO of the Millbrook Area Chamber of Commerce. A freelance writer, Dennis has published articles in magazines in Alabama and Florida such as Alabama Metro360, Joy to Life and Alabama Living, and she has worked in public relations and development. She also was a staff writer and editor for the Junior League publication League Logs and a member of the Junior League of Montgomery. Dennis is past treasurer of the Prattville-Millbrook Sunrise Rotary Club and a member of the West Elmore County Food Pantry Capital Campaign Committee. Dennis graduated from Huntingdon College in Montgomery.
RICHARD DENNIS is superintendent of Elmore County Schools. Previously he worked as the principal at Prattville High School, Wetumpka High School and Holtsville High School. He earned his bachelor’s degree in English and history in education from the University of Alabama. Dennis was named Alabama’s Principal of the Year in 2012 by the Council for Leaders in Alabama Schools. In addition, he received the Outstanding Alumni Award from Auburn University at Montgomery’s School of Education.
KENDAL ENTREKIN is the director of enrollment services at Central Alabama Community College. Before coming to the college, Entrekin worked as an admissions counselor at Auburn University at Montgomery. She earned her bachelor’s degree at the University of Alabama and her Master of Education at the University of West Alabama. She was recognized in 2024 as a Top 20 Under 40 honoree by the Prattville Area Chamber of Commerce.
MARQUIS FORGE is founder and CEO of MRaine Industries, which bottles Eleven86 Real Artesian Water. The company won the 2025 Small Manufacturer of the Year Award from the Business Council of Alabama, Alabama Technology Network and Manufacture Alabama. He is a licensed ordained apostle at his church and vice president of 100 Black Men of West Alabama. He also teaches financial wisdom sessions to students in Autaugaville and Tuscaloosa. Forge recently purchased the old Autaugaville School with plans to start a private Christian school. Forge studied and played football at the University of Alabama.
AMY HILLIARD is economic development director for the city of Prattville. Earlier, Hilliard was the workforce development and business recruitment director for the city of Auburn and economic development director for the Prattville Area Chamber of Commerce. She has worked to market the city of Prattville and overseen announcements and expansions for Owens Corning, Old World Industries, Rural King, James Hardie Building Products, Long Lewis and many new restaurants and retail establishments in the local area. Hilliard holds a bachelor’s degree from Auburn University, a master’s from Troy University and an Ed.D. from the University of Alabama.
DESIRAE JACKSON is the youngest person ever elected to the Elmore County Commission and is in her second term. A University of Alabama graduate, she earned her J.D. degree from the Jones School of Law at Faulkner University before opening her own practice in her hometown of Wetumpka. Jackson has served as president of the Elmore County Bar Association, chair of the Elmore County Mental Health Task Force and the Health Care Task Force. She is president of the Elmore County Emanon Group, the Elmore County Children’s Policy Council and a founding member of the West Elmore Lions Club. Jackson also is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc.
AL KELLEY is long-time mayor of Millbrook. He has served in the role since 1996. Kelley’s memberships have included the Millbrook Area Chamber of Commerce, Millbrook Civitan Club and the National Association of Tax Practitioners. He also has served on the Montgomery Metropolitan Planning Organization and the Central Alabama Regional Planning and Development Commission’s board. In addition, he is a member of the Sons of the American Legion. Kelley attended the University of Alabama and Troy State University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting.
CORY LUCKIE is a family medicine physician at Baptist Health Primary Care Partners at the Prattville Medical Park. Board certified by the Alabama Board of Family Medicine, Luckie is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians and serves as district representative for the organization. He also has served on the Prattville Autauga Character Coalition, which promotes character education. An Auburn University graduate, Luckie earned his medical degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine and completed his residency in family medicine at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa.
JIMMY MORRIS JR. is the owner and managing member of Morris Builders LLC, in Prattville. He is a member of the Prattville Area Chamber of Commerce executive committee, Prattville Baptist Hospital advisory board and the Brantwood Children’s Home. He also is a certified hospital trustee with the Alabama Hospital Association and a former board president for the Habitat for Humanity Autauga and Chilton county chapters. An Alabama State University graduate, he holds a master’s from Columbia Southern University and additional credentials from Babson College Goldman Sachs 10KSB program and the Turner School of Construction Management.
REBECCA SPEAR is the vice president and office manager at River Bank & Trust in Wetumpka. Prior to joining River Bank & Trust, Spear served as the branch sales manager at CB&S Bank. In addition, she has been a member of the Kiwanis Club, served on the board of a local children’s advocacy center and was an ambassador for the Wetumpka Area Chamber of Commerce. She is a member of the chamber’s board of directors. Spear is a graduate of Alabama Banking School of the Alabama Bankers Association.
JOEY WIGINTON is the newly elected mayor of Tallassee, taking office Nov. 3. He is retired from Faulkner University, where he was assistant to the president for alumni relations, a senior advancement office and vice president for student services. He and his wife purchased and refurbished the Mount Vernon Theatre. Built in 1935, the theater reopened in 2024 and now hosts live performances again. Wiginton earned a master’s degree in human resources management and services from Faulkner University.
LYMAN WOODFIN is superintendent of Autauga County Schools. Earlier, he worked as a teacher, a mentor teacher for at-risk students, basketball coach and eventually assistant principal of Prattville High School, where he also worked as the school’s athletics director. He became the principal at Marbury High School in 2018. There, he worked to revamp the curriculum, add vocational classes and oversee campus facility improvements. Woodfin holds a bachelor’s degree from Huntingdon College and a master’s from Auburn University at Montgomery. He also earned an instructional leadership certification from the University of West Alabama.
This article appears in the January 2026 issue of Business Alabama.
